Current setup

Stack

This is the current state of my homelab. It is built around reliability, separation, and real-world use rather than just looking clever on paper.

Overview

Proxmox sits at the centre of everything. I use a mix of VMs and LXCs, segment the network properly, and keep backups local and off-site.

Hardware

  • i7-11700 Proxmox host
  • 64GB RAM
  • NVMe storage for VMs and fast workloads
  • HDD-based ZFS storage for bulk media and general data

Core platform

Proxmox VE is the foundation. I use VMs where isolation matters more, and LXCs where a lighter footprint makes sense.

Docker runs inside a dedicated VM rather than directly on the host.

Networking

  • OPNsense router
  • Separate VLANs for admin, family, IoT and servers
  • Default deny between networks
  • Specific allow rules only where needed

Services

Media

Jellyfin, Radarr, Sonarr, Prowlarr, qBittorrent

Core

Nextcloud, Authentik

Infrastructure

Pi-hole, Unbound, reverse proxy, backup tooling

Storage strategy

I separate storage by importance and purpose rather than throwing everything into one pool.

  • /tank for bulk and replaceable data
  • /flash for fast VM and database storage
  • /vault for critical data that matters most

Backups

Backups run through Proxmox Backup Server, with important data copied off-site as well.

I care less about pretty backup dashboards and more about whether a restore actually works.

Principles

  • Build for real life
  • Keep things understandable
  • Separate systems properly
  • Assume things will fail
  • Test backups